Business Blogging - Setting Up Your Blog To Maximize Your Results Online

By Connie Ragen Green

Organizing your blog and your blog posts will make a difference in how well you are perceived on the internet. By simply taking the time to plan, you can have a blog that represents you well and provides valuable and interesting content to your readers. Business blogging is serious business, so see it as an opportunity to present yourself and your topic in the best possible way. Here are some things to think about, whether you have been blogging for several years or are new to the blogosphere.

Think about the overall design of your blog when you are choosing the colors, graphics, and layout. Will it appeal to your target audience. People make decisions subconsciously when they arrive at your blog.

Categories - Choose the categories that you will write about very carefully. These words and phrases are keywords that will help your readers to find your blog when they are searching on the internet. Having the right categories will also make it easier for people to find the information they are looking for when they visit your site. They can simply click on the category name and read all of the posts you have made under that category.

Sidebar column - You will want to have two columns on your blog. The left column will contain all of your blog posts and the right column will be your sidebar. This is where you can add links to other sites, your categories will be listed, and your opt-in box will be in the upper right-hand corner of the sidebar. This configuration is best for search engine optimization and will make it easier to build your list by collecting the names and email addresses of your visitors.

Opt-in box - Be sure to offer a free report, eBook, or audio file in exchange for the person's contact information. This can be just a few pages long if it is in writing, or thirty minutes or less if it is an audio recording. This will also give you an additional opportunity to tell your new prospect more about yourself and what you do.

Picture - Include a picture of yourself so that people can begin to connect with you immediately when they reach your blog. A headshot, or one from the waist up is best so that people can see what you look like.

Title - Choose a title for your blog that tells people exactly what your blog is about. You will also want to have a tag line that includes your name, as well as a benefit your blog will provide to your readers.

Domain name - This name can be the same as your title, but it does not have to be. Choose a domain name that contains at least one of your keywords, is not too long, easy to spell, and easy to remember. This is not as easy as it sounds because so many domain names have already been taken. Your first choice should also be a dot com domain name, because people are so used to using that extension.

Social media - Becoming active in sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites will make it much easier for you to attract readers to your blog. Spend your time on these sites wisely or will find that they take up a disproportionate number of hours each day.

Posting schedule - Make a schedule to post to your blog, and then stick with it. You may want to have one day to do book reviews and another to answer your readers questions. Post as often as you possibly can to make your blog content rich.

Using these ideas as a guide will help you to establish yourself online as a blogger of influence. Get started today and enjoy the benefits of building your online business through blogging.

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Connie Ragen Green teaches you how to write articles and eBooks to build an online business, as well as how to use the technology needed. Visit www.EbookWritingandMarketingSecrets.com to find out more.